Here at LHS, we pride ourselves on the variety of activities students can participate in. From band to football to four-square club, students of all interests can find something they enjoy doing.

Among the extracurriculars offered at LHS, sports is one of the most popular. One might wonder though: which is the best one? This definitive list ranks all of the sports based on the amount of work required from students, enjoyability for spectators and overall coolness factor.

12. Cross Country

XC definitely gets points for the effort required from athletes. There is no doubt that XC runners “grind” when it comes to 6 a.m. practices or 11 mile long days. It is even harder when you factor in the new shirt requirements. Unfortunately for these lean ladies and lads, XC is boring as heck. Literally, all they do is run. And, if you want to watch them run, you have to run around the course. If you want to watch people run, go watch a sport like soccer or basketball where they do other stuff too.

11. Soccer

Soccer (or football as people without freedom call it) is a great physical activity. Not only is it good for your body, but it is also great for your mind. Playing soccer also helps clear up skin and is useful for promoting positive dialogue between different socioeconomic groups. Soccer is certainly a sport that should not be overlooked. However, soccer would be way more interesting if they had two games going on at the same time perpendicular to each other. Until this is added to the game, it will remain number 11.

10. Track

Track is famous as the sport people in other sports do during the spring. Anyone who has taken chemistry from Jaws knows just how important this sport is to our school and to the LHS tradition. Although XC frequently gets lumped in with track, they are very different. Firstly, track is in one place so you can just sit in the bleachers and watch people run. Secondly, track has a variety of events including the run-and-hop and the one where they run with the metal tube. Track is a very honorable sport, but at the end of the day, it is still people running. Nevertheless, it deserves its tenth-place spot.

9. Basketball

Basketball is the sport of choice for many young ballers at LHS. There certainly is not anything like lacing up a fresh pair of J’s, trying out getting rejected and playing Hi-Y. If you do make the team, however, you will be introduced into one of the tightest-knit families in the school. Overall, basketball is pretty cool.

8. Volleyball

As the sport of choice for Juice Stop customers everywhere, volleyball is increasing in popularity, and with good reason. This sport involves nothing but a ball, a net and other people. It is like basketball, except basketball can be played by men.

7. Baseball/Baseball where the ball is green and bigger

Although these sports are technically unsanctioned, they still have a place in every student’s heart. Baseball is (supposedly) America’s favorite pastime. They wear cleats and slide those bases, bro. Baseball and also softball deserve this spot on the list.

6. Football

Guys, they are trying their best.

5. Tennis

One might speculate that if there was no tennis team, they could remove the courts and put in parking spots. This idea, although it would beneficial for the whole school, discredits the accomplishment and prestige of the LHS tennis team. It is disappointing that real life tennis doesn’t make the “wooooo – smack” sound that tennis in Wii Sports makes, and we could all use a few more parking spots. The thing about this incredible activity is it is all about hard work (and the tennis lessons you got since when you were a child). We could all appreciate tennis a little more.

4. Gymnastics

Everyone at this point is aware that the gymnastics team uses their flexibility and aerobics to pull of midnight heists of prized jewels, but almost no one is aware that the gymnastics team won state in 1986. This fun fact solidifies this sport’s spot at number four.

3. Wrestling

It is a little-known fact that wrestling is the only sport that involves mats, singlets, and two guys grappling each other. You also might not know that wrestling is one of the toughest sports in this school. If you doubt the importance of wrestling, just take into account that they have their own gym. Their own gym! This fact alone bumps it up six spots.

2. Golf

That is right – it is the sport where they invented a vehicle to make the only physically challenging part easier. But golf is more than an expensive sport where aging white men drive baby Teslas over grass. For many students at LHS golf is a lifestyle. You must toil, grind and persevere through the many sand pits, obstacles and alligators that may be on the course (although there are only alligators if you live in Florida). When you add these troubles to the constant need to hoist your clubs around the course, it is easy to see why golf’s second-place ranking is well deserved.

1. Marching band

It is the crown jewel of LHS; our marching band is the one rebuttal we have when WHS kids make fun of our football team. From the one lap they have to run during SPAT camp to the lack of sleep after competitions, marching band truly pushes its athletes to their physical and mental breaking points. There truly is no doubt that the marching band is the number one sport at LHS.

Note: This article is meant to be a joke. All of the activities are interesting and fun to watch and each one could use a little more support from LHS students.